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Red Rock Green Carpet

Published in the May 2009 IssuePublished online: May 22, 2009

Where else can you go from Southwest Desert to St. Andrews, Scotland to the Himalayans all in the same afternoon?

That’s the question posed by the folks behind one of the most unique golf facilities in southern Utah. Turns out, they have a darn good answer. The Sand Hollow Golf Club in St. George, Utah provides all this with its championship course, an authentic links course and a Himalayan-style putting course.

MWG staffers had a chance to play all three one fine sunny day this spring. If schedules allow, we’ll be back on the tail end of September for a redux. It will be worth the 8-hour drive to play this course alone, not to mention the treasure chest of other golf possibilities in this area.

The 18 hole championship course is mind-blowing in terms of its scenery. In fact, our staff photographer (that would be me) actually complained about it because he couldn’t stop kicking himself for not packing his camera on our afternoon round. Long carries over majestic canyons are commonplace. You’ll also find fairways on ridgelines and greens on red-rock cliffs. It is truly a memorable round of golf that will have you booking your next tee time before you finish your round.

Trust us on this.

The links course is also worth a try if you have the time. The nine-hole adventure is cut right out of Scotland with sheep walls and thick wispy rough and rolling greens.

Finally, the Himalayan-style putting course will test even the most accomplished putter. With holes on top of mounds and in the bottom of canyons this 18 putting course is sure to provide hours of enjoyment, regardless of your skill level.

Sand Hollow is the brainchild of esteemed designer and former tour player John Fought.

From a philosophical standpoint he has played most of the great courses throughout the world and understands the design styles of the past and present designers. Fought prefers the classic works from the Golden Age of golf course architecture when such geniuses as Donald Ross, Alistair Mackenzie and AW Tillinghast were creating their master works. While John does not have a dominant motif present in every course he designs (changes occur from project to project to fit the land and circumstances), his style leans toward classic, created with modern construction techniques.

At Sand Hollow, you’ll find echoes of that philosophy at every turn. To get the full experience call up and book a tee time along with one of the many stay-and playpackages available. The number to call: (435) 656-GOLF.